Prep football roundup: Cougars hang on; and Berry wins thriller
Charlotte Catholic’s defense came up with big plays in the final minute Friday night, and the Cougars scored a big 29-22 Southern Carolinas 6A/7A football victory at Sun Valley.
It wasn't the only game decided in the last minute. On Charlotte's west side, Berry Academy scored with five seconds left and beat Harding 19-14 in the Battle at Alleghany.
On a night loaded with blowouts, Charlotte Catholic and Sun Valley battled in a tight game with postseason implications.
Both schools are in the Class 6A ranks, and the victory will give Charlotte Catholic (4-3, 2-1) a boost in its hopes to get a first-round bye.
Sun Valley (3-4, 1-2) took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but Charlotte Catholic took an 8-7 lead in the second quarter on a Sam Kaupp run and an Adam Aoun conversion pass. The Cougars made it 125-7 later in the quarter on a Connor Hill run.
But Sun Valley tied it shortly before the half on a touchdown pass by Grayson Hensley and a conversion pass.
Kaupp scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter, putting the Cougars up 22-15.
Charlotte Catholic appeared to be set to take a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, when Aidan Flynn attempted a 37-yard field goal. But the Spartans blocked the kick, and R.J. Sherrod picked up the ball and dashed 73 yards for a touchdown. The conversion kick tied the game 22-22.
But the Cougars then went ahead when Aoun threw a 41-yard touchdown pass with 7:46 left.
Sun Valley drove deep into Cougar territory in the closing minutes, thanks to two big runs by Hensley. The Spartans had a first down at the Cougar 20 with 49 seconds left, but Charlotte Catholic sacked Hensley and then broke up three straight pass attempts.
Battle at AlleghanyBerry
Berry Academy scored two touchdowns in the final 96 seconds and toppled Harding 19-14 in a meeting of neighborhood rivals.
The schools are along Alleghany Street, and the game was equally close.
Harding (2-5, 1-3) had broken a 6-6 tie early in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run by Jamarcus Hairston. He also ran in the two-point conversion for a 14-6 lead.
Berry Academy (3-4, 1-3) scored with 1:36 left on a 9-yard pass from Jahari Wilson to Noah Brown. But Harding stopped the Cardinals' attempt for a game-tying conversion.
Harding tried to run out the clock but was forced to turn the ball over to the Cardinals. Berry Academy quickly drove into scoring position and got the game-winner on a 21-yard pass from Wilson to Nana-Kwabena Mensah with five seconds remaining.
Here is a look at other high school football Friday night in the Charlotte area:
Greater Charlotte 7A/8A
Hough 72, Garinger 0: The Huskies (7-0, 2-0) opened the game with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, then scored on Garinger’s first possession on a blocked punt. Hough led 37-0 after the first quarter and 58-0 at halftime. Ethan Royal threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Jamarion Morrison ran for two more scores. Garinger slipped to 2-5, 0-2.
Myers Park 41, Hopewell 14: Ramir Watson threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another score, as the Mustangs (5-2, 2-0) kept pace with Hough atop the conference standings. Watson’s throws included a 35-yarder to Jalen Raley, who also scored on a run. Hopewell (4-3, 0-2) scored on a pair of Miles Vanderspuy runs.
Meck Power Six 7A/8A
Chambers 47, Independence 0: Jamouri Nichols ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more, and the Cougars (7-0, 2-0) remained unbeaten. Nichols’ touchdown passes were long-distance throws – 68 yards to Tahk Brooks and 51 yards to Dior Carter. Braylen Sanders added a touchdown on a 32-yard interception return, and Keland Shelton returned the opening kickoff of the second half 90 yards for a Chambers score. Independence slipped to 1-6, 0-2.
Butler 25, North Mecklenburg 14: Butler (4-3, 1-1) got its winning points on a touchdown late in the first half. The Bulldogs, up 13-6, had been stopped on downs at the North Mecklenburg 11. But the Vikings (2-5, 0-2) fumbled away the ball at their 14. Niko Henderson threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Starling for a touchdown and a 19-8 lead. North Meck closed to 19-14 in the third quarter on a Josiah Hendricks touchdown run, but Butler added a score in the final period.
Southwestern 7A/8A
Ardrey Kell 48, Rocky River 7: Caleb Rodriguez returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, getting the Knights (4-3, 1-1) off to a big start. Ardrey Kell added another touchdown minutes later on a 52-yard pass from Noah Dailey to Sidnee Westbrook, and the rout was on. Rocky River fell to 0-7, 0-2.
Palisades 50, Ballantyne Ridge 14: Cole Hough threw four touchdown passes, and the Pumas (6-1, 2-0) rolled to a road victory. Osazee Inneh rushed for 107 yards and both touchdowns for Ballantyne Ridge (3-4, 1-1).
Greater Metro 6A/7A
A.L. Brown 55, Central Cabarrus 7: The host Wonders (7-0, 4-0) continued their dominating season, as A.J Settles threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score. Jamaree Russell also ran for a pair of touchdowns, as did Lemar Grier. Dhilyn Hollis added a touchdown on a 35-yard interception return. The Vikings fell to 1-6, 0-4.
Hickory Ridge 66, Cox Mill 14: Nydriquiz Witcher ran for four touchdowns, and the Ragin’ Bulls (6-1, 4-0) kept pace with A.L. Brown in first place. Colby Cornelius threw a pair of touchdown passes for Hickory Ridge, and Nyoni Sio Jr. scored on a pair of runs.
West Cabarrus 27, Olympic 16: West Cabarrus (3-4, 3-1) rallied from a 16-13 deficit, scoring touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters. The host Trojans are now 3-4, 2-2.
Southern Carolina 6A/7A
Marvin Ridge 27, Porter Ridge 26: The visiting Mavericks completed a big comeback by recovering a Porter Ridge fumble in the end zone for a touchdown with 1:12 left in the game. That tied the game at 26-26, and Ford Fehling, who kicked two field goals in the game and barely missed a 56-yard attempt, added the winning extra point. Tino Delissio scored twice for the Mavs (6-1, 2-1). Corbin Donahoo threw three touchdown passes for Porter Ridge (3-5, 2-2).
Weddington 56, Cuthbertson 0: Jared Street threw three touchdown passes, and Walker Powell ran for three scores, as the Warriors (8-0, 4-0) remained unbeaten. Weddington also scored on a 15-yard return of a blocked punt by Anthony Mayonea. Cuthbertson fell to 1-7, 0-4.
Mecklenburg nonconference
Christ School 35, Charlotte Christian 21: Gavin McDermott threw two touchdown passes, but the visiting Knights (2-4) fell to the Greenies (6-1). Philip Seitz threw three touchdown passes to Dre Smith, and the Greenies added a score on an interception return. Maxton Miller scored for Charlotte Christian on a long run in the third quarter.
North Piedmont 6A/7A
Davie County 39, Statesville 15: Statesville (2-5, 0-2) fell behind 13-0 but closed to 13-7 before Davie County (5-2, 2-0) scored 20 straight points.
Lake Norman 60, South Iredell 0: The Wildcats (7-0, 2-0) remained unbeaten, as Kaden Craft threw three touchdown passes and ran for three more. Two of Craft’s touchdown passes went to Noah Jacobsen. Chase Johnson added to the rout by returning an interception for a score. South Iredell is now 1-6, 0-2.
Mooresville 56, North Iredell 0: Weston Michalak threw four touchdown passes, two to Chanse Bost, and the Blue Devils (3-4, 2-0) routed the Warriors (0-7, 0-2). Mooresville’s opening touchdown came when Tyjae Little recovered a North Iredell fumble in the end zone. Michalak’s passes to Bost covered 36 and 46 yards.
Big South 5A/6A
Crest 37, Hunter Huss 16: Brock Melton scored twice on runs in the first quarter, and the Chargers (6-1, 3-0) rolled past the Huskies (3-5, 1-3). Crest led 37-0 after three quarters, before Huss scored on a pair of passes in the final period. Crest’s touchdowns included a 10-yard fumble return by A.J. Parker.
Kings Mountain 35, Ashbrook 8: The Mountaineers (6-1, 3-0) contained Ashbrook quarterback A.J. McClain and rolled over the Green Wave (3-4, 1-2).
South Point 68, North Gaston 0: Levin Moore scored three times on runs, and the Raiders (6-1, 3-1) routed North Gaston (0-8, 0-4). South Point built a 48-0 halftime lead, as Cayden Rumph threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score, and Jack Krouse scored on a run and a pass.
Rocky River 4A/5A
Forest Hills 14, Parkwood 0: Makhi Massey scored on runs of 2 yards and 1 yard, and the Yellow Jackets’ defense preserved the victory. Forest Hills improved to 7-0, 2-0. Parkwood (3-4, 0-2) intercepted a Forest Hills pass and drove to the Yellow Jacket 18 in the second quarter before being stopped. And the Wolf Pack got to the Forest Hills 13 in the fourth quarter but lost a fumble.
Monroe 70, West Stanly 0: This one was over early, as Monroe (5-2, 2-0) raced to a 49-0 halftime lead over the Colts (3-4, 1-1).
Mount Pleasant 28, Anson County 14: The visiting Tigers (5-2, 1-1) built a 21-0 halftime lead and held off a second-half comeback by the Bearcats (4-3, 0-2).
South Piedmont 4A/5A
Jay M. Robinson 66, South Rowan 0: Aury Greenfield threw six touchdown passes and ran for one more, as the Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0) rolled again. Jay M. Robinson scored 30 points in the second quarter. Tyler Van Dyke caught two touchdown passes, and Liam Watson ran for a pair of scores. South Rowan is 4-3, 1-3.
Jesse Carson 45, Concord 27: Trailing 14-0 in the first quarter, Concord (1-6, 0-4) scored on a 70-yard pass by Carson Davis. But Jesse Carson (4-3, 2-2) scored three touchdowns in the second quarter, including a 100-yard interception return by Grayson Carter.
Northwest Cabarrus 43, Salisbury 7: Hudson Irwin threw three touchdown passes, two to Nate Jones, and the Trojans (6-1, 4-0) kept Salisbury (0-7, 0-4) winless. Irwin also ran for a touchdown, and Nate Jones scored three times – on a run, and twice on Irwin passes.
Western Foothills 4A/5A
North Lincoln 36, Bandys 20: The Knights (2-6, 1-5) earned their first conference victory, scoring twice in the fourth quarter to pull away. Bandys (3-4, 2-3) had narrowed a North Lincoln lead to 22-20, but Stephen Fox and Mason Ayers scored on fourth-quarter runs for the Knights.
West Iredell 35, Hickory 28: West Iredell’s remarkable season continued, as the Warriors (7-0, 5-0) scored what is thought to be the school’s first-ever victory over Hickory (6-2, 5-1). West Iredell trailed 28-21 in the third quarter, but Jaheem Jenkins scored on a 30-yard run, tying the game, and Amario Spence added a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The Warriors preserved the victory with an interception and fumble recovery in the final period.
Metrolina Athletic
SouthLake Christian 20, Covenant Day 13: Luke Conenna ran 9 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, lifting the Eagles (4-3, 1-1) over the Lions (1-6, 0-2). Covenant Day had taken a 13-7 lead on a Graham Dennison-to-Ethan Chin pass in the third quarter, but SouthLake Christian came back with a pair of David Hauser field goals and Conenna’s touchdown run.
Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A
Community School of Davidson 41, Lincoln Charter 0: The Spartans (5-2, 4-0) built a 21-0 lead after the first quarter and cruised past the Eagles (1-6, 1-3). The game was played at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory.
Lake Norman Charter 13, Christ the King 10: The Knights (4-3, 2-2) pulled an upset, as Dylan Wignot threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Chase Gentile with four minutes left for the winning score. Wignot also threw a first-quarter touchdown pass, to Eli Washington. Christ the King (5-2, 2-2), which scored on a Jamison Ehret pass and a Lucas Castain field goal, drove to the Lake Norman Charter 18 in the final minutes. But the Crusaders fumbled the ball away
Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
Bessemer City 20, Highland Tech 7: In a battle of winless teams, the Yellow Jackets (1-7, 1-5) scored two touchdowns late in the second quarter for a 14-7 lead and never looked back. Highland Tech is now 0-8, 0-6.
Cherryville 52, East Gaston 18: The visiting Ironmen (5-2, 3-2) scored three touchdowns on passes in the third quarter, expanding a 20-6 lead to 40-6. East Gaston fell to 4-3, 2-3.
Shelby 9, Lincolnton 7: Put two of the area’s highest-scoring teams together, and what do you get? A defensive battle. Shelby (6-1, 5-0) took a 3-0 lead in the second quarter and expanded the margin to 9-0 in the final period on Kendrick Raper’s 15-yard touchdown run. Lincolnton (6-2, 4-2) scored later in the fourth quarter on Jalaythan Mayfield’s 5-yard run. That score was set up by a long pass from Rashad Lynch to R.J. Lynch. Shelby gambled with 33 seconds, going for it on fourth-and-10. The Golden Lions converted the first down on a pass and ran out the clock.
Stuart Cramer 14, West Lincoln 0: The host Storm (5-2, 3-2) scored twice in the first quarter and made it hold up. West Lincoln fell to 2-5, 1-4.
Scoreboard
Thursday
Nonconference
Ambassador Christian (6-1) at Providence Day (5-1)
Charlotte Latin (2-4) at Cannon School (5-1)
Friday
Greater Charlotte 7A/8A
Hough 72, Garinger 0
Myers Park 41, Hopewell 14
Meck Power Six 7A/8A
Butler 25, North Mecklenburg 14
Chambers 47, Independence 0
Southwestern 7A/8A
Ardrey Kell 48, Rocky River 7
Palisades 50, Ballantyne Ridge 14
Greater Metro 6A/7A
A.L. Brown 55, Central Cabarrus 7
Berry Academy 19, Harding 14
Hickory Ridge 66, Cox Mill 14
West Cabarrus 27, Olympic 16
North Piedmont 6A/7A
Davie County 39, Statesville 15
Lake Norman 60, South Iredell 0
Mooresville 56, North Iredell 0
Southern Carolina 6A/7A
Charlotte Catholic 29, Sun Valley 22
Marvin Ridge 27, Porter Ridge 26
Weddington 56, Cuthbertson 0
Big South 4A/5A
Crest 37, Hunter Huss 16
Kings Mountain 35, Ashbrook 8
South Point 68, North Gaston 0
Rocky River 4A/5A
Forest Hills 14, Parkwood 0
Monroe 70, West Stanly 0
Mount Pleasant 28, Anson County 14
South Piedmont 4A/5A
Jay M. Robinson 66, South Rowan 0
Jesse Carson 45, Concord 27
Northwest Cabarrus 43, Salisbury 7
West Rowan 42, East Rowan 29
Western Foothills 4A/5A
East Lincoln 44, Fred T. Foard 0
Newton-Conover 28, Bunker Hill 20
North Lincoln 36, Bandys 20
West Iredell 35, Hickory 28
Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A
Community School of Davidson 41, Lincoln Charter 0
Corvian Community 65, Langtree Charter 13
Lake Norman Charter 13, Christ the King 10
Pine Lake Prep 20, Bradford Prep 19
Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A
Bessemer City 20, Highland Tech 7
Cherryville 52, East Gaston 18
Shelby 9, Lincolnton 7
Stuart Cramer 14, West Lincoln 0
Catawba-Yadkin Valley 1A/2A/3A
Mountain Island Charter 35, Bonnie Cone Academy 8
North Rowan def. Thomas Jefferson Academy, forfeit
North Stanly 62, South Stanly 0
Union Academy 37, Albemarle 34
Big 5 (NCISAA)
Asheville School 35, High Point Christian 13
SouthLake Christian 20, Covenant Day 13
Nonconference
Cabarrus Stallions (0-3) at Fayetteville Sandhills Titans (0-3)
Charlotte Country Day 28, Metrolina Christian 6
Christ School 35, Charlotte Christian 21
Hickory Grove Christian 49, Mount Zion Christian 36
OFF: Burns, East Mecklenburg, Maiden, Mallard Creek, Providence, South Mecklenburg, West Charlotte, West Mecklenburg
